Tyrolia freeflex 15 and RDX plate, great enough?

FWIW,  I think Muleski is selling some XBalance plates right now over in the For Sale forum.

The RDX plate is the same plate Fischer (and now Head) have been using for a long time (10+ years) on their race skis.  Only variation has been on the colored end pieces on the plate.  It should be the same as the plate on your 193 Fischer unless that has been changed out at some time.  It is a good plate and works well with the Freeflex binding which is, IMHO, still one of the best out there.  You should be OK with the 15.  Only thing to watch is lining up the plate properly to mount it on the ski.  I have seen quite a few pairs come from the factory with the plate not quite perfectly aligned.  However this is less of an issue since the plate is not pre-drilled.  You still get the binding aligned on the ski with the jig even if the plate is slightly off.  The proper X-balance plate for that ski is also a good plate and can take most bindings
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by KeepCold 

I ...am looking for reassurance that this setup will give me a great ride.

Will this binding be all I need it to be?
 

It's questions like this that lead some of us to use this  more as rolling eyes than being sarcastic. How can anyone answer whether it will give you a great ride, or be all you need it to be? 

Yes, it's a solid binding and plate. Assuming it's the 09 and later Pro Heel, it won't come off you at GS speeds in mid-turn. Would I use it for an actual racing setup? No, but that's just because I prefer Look for actual racing setups. Plenty of strong skiers use Tyrolia, though. Would I use it for an aggressive free-skiing setup? I do. Already.  (With a milder plate.) But I weigh 165, and think hitting 65 mph on public slopes is irresponsible. YMMV...

Quote:

Originally Posted by KeepCold 

Beyond, you're a doll.  Must be a blast to ski with. 

 

FWIW, Beyond made a good point.  With those questions, no one really knows what you want to know.  ScotSkier had some good information, but he was basically throwing darts at a dartboard because you didn't actually ask anything specific.

I see you've been around a while but with only a handful of posts, I'm not sure if you're simply a lurker or just don't come around often.  If the latter, welcome to epic.  The likely reason for Beyond's  is because we get *plenty* of threads asking for things like the "best" ski or "will this be good for me?"  Those non-specific questions are almost impossible to answer helpfully...

I hope these are OK, I just ordered a pair for my new Elan WC SLX slalom skis. I have a pair of FF+ 17s on my old slalom skis but I've never cranked them up that high so I thought the 15s ought to be fine. FWIW the new Elans came with plates pre-installed that seem to look like RDX plates except that these are predrilled for the Elan/ Tyrolia bindings.

Quote:

Originally Posted by oisin 

I hope these are OK, I just ordered a pair for my new Elan WC SLX slalom skis. I have a pair of FF+ 17s on my old slalom skis but I've never cranked them up that high so I thought the 15s ought to be fine. FWIW the new Elans came with plates pre-installed that seem to look like RDX plates except that these are predrilled for the Elan/ Tyrolia bindings.

Quote:

Originally Posted by KeepCold 

Oisin, or anyone who's skied 'em....did the 17 have the same ability to change from stiffer to softer? And if so, did you use it and notice a real difference? It seems like it would be a great feature. I've never had an option like that.

I suspect you are talking about the free flex spring in the center.  Just tighten it up and ski them that way.  Never really noticed any difference.  The new ones do not have the spring, just a connecting band.

Quote:

Originally Posted by oisin 

I hope these are OK, I just ordered a pair for my new Elan WC SLX slalom skis. I have a pair of FF+ 17s on my old slalom skis but I've never cranked them up that high so I thought the 15s ought to be fine. FWIW the new Elans came with plates pre-installed that seem to look like RDX plates except that these are predrilled for the Elan/ Tyrolia bindings.

yeah, they will be fine if you are using a lower Din.  The 15s have the Race toe which is the main thing.  I actually have a selection of different versions spread across the quiver, 15, 16, 17 and 18 DIN

Quote:

Originally Posted by KeepCold 

Oisin, or anyone who's skied 'em....did the 17 have the same ability to change from stiffer to softer? And if so, did you use it and notice a real difference? It seems like it would be a great feature. I've never had an option like that.

These do have a screw in the center that I believe allows you to decouple the toe and heel pieces to make the ski more flexible. I never use it since I like the firmness of the skis. Likewise with the ER17 bindings on my GS skis. These (WC GSX Elans) are too flexible for my liking anyway. The flex is nice for remaining in contact over rough surfaces but if you find the ski flexing too much in a turn it can be a real drawback in terms of reduced edgehold and increased drag. Instead of cutting a nice clean arc around a turn your bent ski is ploughing around the turn. These two by the way have the springs in the center of the binding as ScotsSkier mentioned. The new FF 15s do not. I have no idea how this will affect the skiing characteristics.  I think its great to have options though. Depending on your weight and the kind of skiing you do you may find that allowing the skis greater flexibility works well for you. Basically modern skis are much more flexible than they once were and this has been generally a good thing I think.

Quote:

Originally Posted by oisin 

These do have a screw in the center that I believe allows you to decouple the toe and heel pieces to make the ski more flexible. I never use it since I like the firmness of the skis. Likewise with the ER17 bindings on my GS skis. These (WC GSX Elans) are too flexible for my liking anyway. The flex is nice for remaining in contact over rough surfaces but if you find the ski flexing too much in a turn it can be a real drawback in terms of reduced edgehold and increased drag. Instead of cutting a nice clean arc around a turn your bent ski is ploughing around the turn. These two by the way have the springs in the center of the binding as ScotsSkier mentioned. The new FF 15s do not. I have no idea how this will affect the skiing characteristics.  I think its great to have options though. Depending on your weight and the kind of skiing you do you may find that allowing the skis greater flexibility works well for you. Basically modern skis are much more flexible than they once were and this has been generally a good thing I think.

Just an update:

My Tyrolia 15 Pros arrived and it seems that, in addition to not having the springs which the 17s had, they don't seem to have the flex adjustment feature.The 17s and the 18s I own have a screw in the middle which you can turn a quarter turn and it seems to relax the connection between toepiece and heel. The Tyrolia 15s I just got do have a screw there which doesn't seem  intended to be loosened or removed. Curiously the Tyrolia website does not even mention either the Freeflex 15 Pros or the FF+18s, only FF11, 14, and 17 are shown so possibly the 15s and 18 are no longer made.

Quote:

Originally Posted by oisin 

Just an update:

My Tyrolia 15 Pros arrived and it seems that, in addition to not having the springs which the 17s had, they don't seem to have the flex adjustment feature.The 17s and the 18s I own have a screw in the middle which you can turn a quarter turn and it seems to relax the connection between toepiece and heel. The Tyrolia 15s I just got do have a screw there which doesn't seem  intended to be loosened or removed. Curiously the Tyrolia website does not even mention either the Freeflex 15 Pros or the FF+18s, only FF11, 14, and 17 are shown so possibly the 15s and 18 are no longer made.

That is correct.  On the newer ones (from either 09 or 10), the freeflex spring is no longer there, just a retaining screw to hold the link band (makes them a bit trickier to mount!).  I would need to check but I think IIRC correctly my 18s which are an older X-race  model with the AFD for the toe rather than the "track band" AFD also do not have the freeflex spring adjustment, just a locating screw.  They also have a screw adjustment on the heel rather than the tab.  I have a newer set of 16X which also has the screw heel.

Keepcold, wrt the amount of metal, I can not recall if there is much difference between them.  they are all pretty solid bindings and pretty similar with some minor differences. One of my favorite race bindings.